The White Bus *** (1967, Patricia Healey, Arthur Lowe, John Sharp) Classic Movie Review 9808

The White Bus is a humorous, flavourful and poignant 1967 46-minute short film directed by Lindsay Anderson, now a time capsule. In it, Patricia Healey plays The Girl, who leaves depressive London on a train full of football supporters and arrives in an unnamed city clearly based on Manchester, where she takes a trip in a white double-decker bus, along with The Mayor (Arthur Lowe) and the council’s ceremonial macebearer (John Sharp).

The screenplay is by Shelagh Delaney from a short story in her collection Sweetly Sings the Donkey (1963). Anderson takes full advantage of local views and locations, as well as the help of local people.

The White Bus marks the film debut of Anthony Hopkins in a small role, while Stephen Moore plays a bowler-hatted young man who pesters the heroine.

The cast are Patricia Healey as The Girl, Arthur Lowe as The Mayor, John Sharp as The Macebearer, Julie Perry as Conductress, Stephen Moore as Young Man, Victor Henry as Transistorite, John Savident, Fanny Carby, Malcolm Taylor, Alan O’Keeffe as football supporters, Anthony Hopkins as Brechtian, Jeanne Watts, Eddie King as Fish Shop Couple, Barry Evans as Boy, Penny Ryder as Girl and Dennis Alaba Peters as Mr Wombe.

It was commissioned by Woodfall Film Productions producer Oscar Lewenstein as one third of a portmanteau feature entitled Red, White and Zero from Delaney short stories. In the end, only The White Bus received a UK cinema release (by United Artists Corporation).

It is shot in black and white and Eastmancolor by Miroslav Ondrícek, who filmed Anderson’s If... and O Lucky Man!, and had a long working relationship with Miloš Forman.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9808

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